Retractable container support for railway flat cars

ABSTRACT

Pairs of windows are located in spaced relation along opposite sides of a longitudinal slot in the deck of a railway flat car for receiving shear lugs upstanding from oppositely extending wings at the distal end of a strut extending through the slot from an inclined surface of a container support having a pair of connected right angularly arranged walls and a seat for receiving a container corner fitting having an opening in a wall parallel to the slot for receiving a shoulder of a locking member. The container support is pivotable on the deck to withdraw the shear lugs from a pair of windows to a position where the inclined surface can slide along the deck. A storage opening connects endwise with the slot into which the container support can be pivoted. Guide flanges cooperate with the shear lugs to direct the container support to and from storage position. A lift bar facilitates withdrawal of the container support from storage position. A guide lug on the inclined surface cooperates with the strut to direct the container support along the slot and a shear lug depends from the container support to resist transversely applied forces. The center of gravity of the container support is so located as to gravity bias it to either the operative upright position or the pivoted sliding position. In a modification the shear lugs are in the form of hooks arranged to enter a pair of the windows for holding the respective container support against longitudinal and transverse movement as well as against lifting off of the deck. In its sliding position the container support contacts the surface of the deck along an end surface of the wall parallel to the slot in the deck.

Sweger [451 Dec. 17, 1974 RETRACTABLE CONTAINER SUPPORT FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS [75] Inventor: Theodore J. Sweger, Lake Worth,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: Illinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1973- 211 Appl. No.: 390,015

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 276,692, July 31,

1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 105/366 D, 248/119 R Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert R. Lockwood [57] ABSTRACT Pairs of windows are located in spaced relation along opposite sides of a longitudinal slot in the deck of a railway flat car for receiving shear lugs upstanding from oppositely extending wings at the distal end of a strut extending through the slot from an inclined surface of a container support having a pair of connected right angularly arranged walls and a seat for receiving a container corner fitting having an opening in a wall parallel to the slot for receiving a shoulder of a locking member. The container support is pivotable on the deck to withdraw the shear lugs from a pair of windows to a position where the inclined surface can slide along the deck. A storage opening connects endwise with the slot into which the container support can be pivoted. Guide flanges cooperate with the shear lugs to direct the container'support to and from storage position. A lift bar facilitates withdrawal of the container support from storage position. A guide lug on the inclined surface cooperates with the strut to direct the container support along the slot and a shear lug depends from the container support to resist transversely applied forces. The center of gravity of the 7 container support is so located as to gravity bias it to either the operative upright position or the pivoted sliding position. In a modification the shear lugs are in the form of hooks arranged to enter a pair of the windows for holding the respective container support against longitudinal and transverse movement as well as against lifting off of the deck. In its sliding position the container support contacts the surface of the deck along an end surface of the wall parallel to the slot in the deck.

7 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC] 7 I974 sum 1 or Y PAIENTEU Dim mu SHEEI 2 BF 7 PAIENIEU 3354.422 I SHEET 7 OF 7 RETRACTABLE CONTAINER SUPPORT FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 276,692, filed July EH, 1972, now abandoned.

This invention is an improvement over the construction disclosed in Sweger US. Pat. No. 3,670,663, issued June 20, 1972.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for retaining a container support on the deck of a railway flat car in a new and improved manner; to so locate shear lugs in relation to the container locking member that there is no likelihood that they will be dislodged from windows in the deck regardless of the forces applied to the container support; to facilitate shifting of the container support to different positions to accommodate different lengths of containers; to locate the center of gravity of the container support such that it is biased to either the operative upright position or to a pivoted sliding position; to employ shear lugs in the form of hooks to hold the container support against longitudinal, transverse and vertical movement, and to construct the container support in such manner that only a horizontal force is required to move it from an erect position along the deck and to a retracted position.

In the drawings:

FIGS. lA-1B placed endwise in the order mentioned show a top plan view of a portion of the deck of a railway car having a container support mounted thereon in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower corner of a conventional rectangular container provided with a conventional container fitting.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 5 is a view, in side elevation, of a container support mounted on the deck of a railway flat car and embodying this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing the container support pivoted to a position where it can be slid along the deck.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the container support in the fully retracted position.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a modified form of container support and illustrates how it is mounted on the deck sheet of a railway flat car for receiving a container.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing how the container support can be slid along the surface of the deck sheet without requiring that a lifting force be applied thereto during such movement.

FIG. 12 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing the container support in the retracted position.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings it will be observed that reference character 10 designates, generally, a deck of a railway flat car that may be constructed generally as described in the patent above referred to. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the deck 10 is formed by a deck sheet 11 of steel plate which is supported along the one side by track stringers 12 formed of Z bars which are suitably supported on the car sub structure. A side sill 13 extends along the outer edge of the deck 11 and is suitably secured, as by welding, thereto. A longitudinal slot 14 is provided in the deck sheet 11 between the track stringers 12 for the purpose of slidably mounting container supports one of which is indicated, generally, at 15. It will be understood that a longitudinal slot 14 is provided along each of the sides of the deck 10 of the railway flat car as disclosed in more detail in the patent above referred to. A number of the container supports 15 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal slots, there being four for each container with a pair of the container supports 15 in each longitudinal slot 14 for receiving the corresponding side of a conventional rectangular container a portion of which is indicated at 16 in FIG. 2. It will be understood that the container supports 15 are of opposite hand for each pair along a slot 14.

At each lower corner of the container 16 there is provided a hollow bottom container fitting that is indicated, generally at 17. It is suitably secured to the container 16 and is provided with side walls 18 and 19 that extend at the right angles to each other and a bottom wall 20. Latch receiving openings 21 and 22 are formed in the side walls 18 and 19 and a slot 23 is provided in the bottom wall 20.

The container support 15 is provided with a horizontal seat 27 that is arranged to receive the bottom wall 20 of the respective container fitting 17. The arrangement is such that side wall 18, when the container fitting 17 isin operative position on the respective container support 15, is juxtaposed to a vertical wall 28 of the container support 15 while the side wall 19 is juxtaposed to a wall 29 of the container support 15, the walls 28 and 29 being connected in right angular relation. Attention is directed to the fact that the side wall 18 is generally parallel to the longitudinal slot 14 when the container 16 is mounted on the container support 15.

In order to securely hold the container 16in place on the container support 15 there is provided a locking member that is indicated, generally, at 30. The locking member 30 can be constructed as described in the patent above referred to. Accordingly the details of construction of it are not repeated herein. Also it will be understood that other locking members can be employed with the arrangement being preferred that the locking member 30 have a locking shoulder 31 which is arranged to enter the latch receiving opening 21 in the container fitting 17.

It is desirable that provision be made for securely holding the container support 15 in place on the deck 10. Also it is desirable that it be so arranged and constructed that it can be readily moved along the longitudinal slot 14 in order to occupy a position correspond ing to the length of the container 16 or to move it to retracted position below the deck 10 to permit use of the flat car for other purposes. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the container support 15, which preferably is fonned as a single metallic casting, is provided with an extension 32 on the side away from the wall 29. The extension 32 has an upwardly inclined surface 33 as shown in FIG. 5, the purpose of which is to facilitate sliding of the container support 15 along surface 34 of the deck sheet 11. Extending from the inclined surface 33 is a strut 35 which is of sufficient length to extend through the longitudinal slot 14 and'at its distal end, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is provided with laterally extending wings 36. It will be observed that the wings 36 have integrallyformed shear lugs 37 upstanding therefrom for entering windows 38, FIGS. 18 and 3 which are formed in the deck sheet 11 and in flanges 39 of the track stringers 12. As shown in FIG. 1B pairs of windows 38' are provided along opposite sides of the slot 14 with the pairs being spaced apart to accommodate different lengths of the container 16. By positioning the shear lugs 37 in upstanding relation on the wings 36 at the distal ends of the strut 35 horizontal forces applied to the respective container support 15 are restrained. Also vertical movement'of the container support 15 is not accompanied by lifting of the shear lugs 37 out of the windows'38. Rather the shear lugs 37 are held in place in the respective windows 38 on vertical move ment of the respective container support 15. When an upward force is applied to the container support 15 through the locking shoulder 31 of the locking member 30, the container support 15 tends to pivot about a fulcrum axis 42,.FIG. 5. However, such pivotable movement is restrained by the wings 36.

In addition to the shear lugs 37 a shear lug 43 is formed integrally with the container support 15 centrally thereof so that its projects into the longitudinal slot 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The shear lug 43 resists forces applied to the container support 15 transversely of the longitudinal slot 14.

When it is desired to shift the container support 15 to an alternate position, it is pivoted from the position shown in FIG. to the position shown in FIG. 6 by application of a horizontal force about the pivot axis 49. There is no need to apply a lifting force to the container support 15. In the position shown in FIG. 6 the shear lugs 37 are moved out of the respective windows 38 and the shear lug 43 is withdrawn from the longitudinal slot 14. Then the container support 15 can be moved along the surface 34 of the deck sheet 11 with the inclined surface 33 in contact therewith. A guide lug 44 on the surface 33 now extends into the longitudinal slot 14 and together with the strut 35 guides the container support 15 in its movement along the slot 14. In the position of the container support 15, as shown in FIG. 6, it can be moved along the deck 11 without interference by the shear lugs 37 since they are clear of the windows 38 and remain clear as long as the surface 33 remains in contact with the surface of the deck 11. Thus there is no need to manually hold the container support 15 in an elevated position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 the center of gravity of the container support 15 is located at 45. Thus, when the container support 15 is in the upright position shown in FIG. 5, the force of gravity tends to hold it in this position. When the container support 15 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 6 it is gravity biased to the tilted position.

In order to provide for retracting the container support 15, as shown in FIG. 1A, there is provided a rectangular storage opening 46 that connects with the longitudinal slot 14 and is centrally located with respect thereto. The storage opening 46 is provided in the deck 10. In order to guide the container support 15 into the storage position guide angles 47, FIGS. 1A and 6 are employed. It will be observed that the guide angles 47 are inclined with respect to the deck and that they include oppositely extending flanges 48 that are arranged to overlie the shear lugs 37 as the container support 15 is shifted about its pivot axis 49 to the storage position illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 6. When the container support 15 occupies the stored position a flange 50 along the wall 29 overlies the periphery of the storage opening 46, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this manner the storage opening 46 is closed off by the container support 15 in the stored position.

With a view to facilitating the removal of the container support 15 from the stored position there is provided a lift bar 51 in the wall 29 between openings 52. The lift bar 51 can be grasped and the containersupport 15 then withdrawn from the storage opening 46 and pivoted about axis 49 to the operative position as shown in FIG. 5.

Attention is directed to the fact that, when the container support 15 is pivoted about axis 49 to the position shown in FIG. 6 the shear lugs 37 and 43 are out of contact with the deck 10. In particular the shear lugs 37 are withdrawn from the windows 38. There is then nothing which interferes with the sliding movement of the container support 15 with the inclined surface 33 now in engagement with the surface 34 of the deck sheet 11. If desired, when the container support 15 occupies the position shown in FIG. 6, it can be pushed along the longitudinal slot 14 to an alternate position or to the storage position as may be desired.

In FIGS. 8-12 there is illustrated, generally, at 56 a slightly modified form of container support which can be employed in conjunction with the deck 10 of a railway flat car which is provided with the deck sheet 11.

, Instead of the Z bars previously described track stringers 12' in the form of angles underlie the deck sheet 11 and extend along the side sill 13.

The container support 56, like the container support 15, is provided with a horizontal seat 57 to receive the bottom wall 20 of the container fitting 17. Extending upwardly from the horizontal seat 57 are walls 58 and 59 which are connected in right angular relation for overlying the sides 18 and 19 of the container fitting 17. For holding the container fitting 17 in place on the container support 56 there is provided a locking member that is indicated generally at 60 which has a locking shoulder 61 for entering the latch receiving opening 21 and the container fitting 17. Preferably the locking member 60 is constructed as disclosed in Sweger US. Pat. No. 3,604,364, issued Sept. 14, I971.

Below the horizontal seat 57 there in an integrally formed end wall 62 from which a strut 63 extends laterally. The strut 63 is arranged to extend through the longitudinal slot 14 in the deck sheet 11. At its distal end it is provided with arcuate wings 64 which underlie the deck sheet 11 on opposite sides of the longitudinal slot 14 as illustrated more clearly in FIG. 10. A gusset 65 extends from the distal end of the strut 63 and through the slot 14 and is formed integrally with a bottom wall 66 of the container support 56. The gusset 65 serves, in part. to resist transverse movement of the container support 56 relative to the deck sheet 11 when the container support 56 occupies the upright position shown in FIG. 9. Side walls 68 and 69 interconnect the horizontal seat 57 and the bottom wall 66 and form part of the enclosure for the operating mechanism for the locking member 60.

With a view to preventing movement of the container support 56 along the longitudinal slot 14 when a container is mounted on the container support 56, a pair of hooks 70 is employed. The hooks 70 depend from the bottom wall 66 and are formed integrally therewith. They are arranged to enter windows 38 which are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal slot 14. The

windows 38 correspond to the windows 38 previously referred to. It will be noted that the left window 38' is slightly wider-than the right window 38' and that the left hook 70, similarly, is wider than the right hook 70.

' This will be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 8

and 10. Each of the hooks 70 includes a shank 71 which extends downwardly through the respective window 38, FIG. 9, and a laterally extending tongue 72 which underlies the deck sheet 11.

It will be understood that the tongue 72 of each of the hooks 70 is slightly less in length than the length of the respective window 38. This permits the entrance and withdrawal of the hooks 70 to and from the respective windows 38'. In the operative upright position the container support 56 is located as illustrated in FIG. 9 with the right side of the respective shank 71 in engagement with a juxtaposed edge of the deck sheet 11. When so arranged, the hooks 70 prevent lifting movement of the respective container support 56. In addition the shanks 71 resist transverse movement of the container support 56 with respect to the longitudinal slot 14. As long as the container rests on the horizontal seat 57 of the container support'56, the latter is maintained in the position illustrated in FIG. 9.

As illustratedin FIGS. 9, 11 and 12 there is provided a shear lug 73 which, in the upright position of the containersupport 56, depends from the bottom wall 66 at its right end. The shear lug 73 functions to prevent lateral movement of the container support 56 since it projects through the longitudinal slot 14. It will be apparent that transverse movement of the container support 56 is prevented through the combined actions of the distal end of the strut 63, the gusset 65, the shanks 71 of the hooks 70 and the shear lug 73.

Since it is desirable to provide for retracting the container support 56 and to move it into the rectangular storage opening 46', which corresponds to the rectangular opening 46 previously described, arcuate surfaces 74 are formed on the end wall 62.

When it is desired to retract the container support 56, it is first shifted to the left, FIG. 9, until the shank 71 engage the left end of the respective window 38. Then a horizontal force is applied to the upper end of the container support 56 and it is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 11 about the arcuate surfaces 74 until an end surface 75 of the wall 58 engages the surface of the deck sheet 11. This movement is accompanied by withdrawal of the hooks 70 from the windows 38'. However, the gusset 65 still extends through the longitudinal slot 14 and assists in guiding the container support 56 along the surface of the deck sheet 11. Additional guiding action is provided by a guide lug 76 which constitutes an extension of the strut 63.

Now it will be apparent that only a horizontal force is required to be applied to the container support 56 for shifting it along the surface of the deck sheet 11. No vertical force is required to hold any portion of it above the surface of the deck sheet 11 or to hold any extensions thereof out of likely movement through the windows 38'. The reason for this is that, as shown in FIG. 11, the hooks 70 are located well above the surface of the deck sheet l1.

As the containersupport 56 is moved along the surface of the deck sheet 11 the arcuate wings 64 underlying it and extending to opposite sides of the longitudinal slot 14 prevent separation of the container support 56 from the deck 10.

It will be understood that the container support 56 can be shifted along the surface of the deck 11 when it is provided to the position shown in FIG. 11 for subsequent insertion of the books in other windows 38' depending upon the length of the container to be supported.

Alternatively, when it is desired to retract the container support 56, it is shifted to the left until it overlies the rectangular storage opening 46. Continued movement of the container support 56 brings the ends of the arcuate wings 64 into engagement with the under sides of flanges of arcuate baffle angles 81 which are suitably secured to the track stringers 12 as shown in FIG. 10. In the meantime the container support 56 has dropped into the rectangular storage opening 46 as illustrated in FIG. 12 while the distal ends of the arcuate wings 64 underlie the flanges 80 of the baffle angles 81 and thus prevent removal of the container support 56 from the deck 10 of the railway flat car.

When the container support 56 occupies the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 12 laterally extending flanges 82 from the wall 59 overlie the edges of the storage opening 46' and extend there beyond in accordance with conventional practice.

With a view to facilitating the withdrawal of the container support 56 from the rectracted position to the upright position there is provided a socket 83 at the upper end of the bottom wall 66 as viewed in FIG. 12. A suitable tool can be inserted in the socket 83 and sufficient lifting force applied to withdraw the container support 56 from the retracted position and return it to the sliding position shown in FIG. 11 or the upright position shown in FIG. 9.

I claim:

1. A railway flat car comprising a deck having a longitudinal slot with windows in spaced relation along one side, a container support slidable along said slot having a generally horizontal seat to support an associated lower corner of a container, said container support having a pair of connected walls arranged in right angular relation and extending upwardly from said seat to restrain said container against horizontal movement,

one of said connected walls adapted to overlie said vertical side wall of said container, a strut extending from a side of said container support through said slot, a wing at the distal end of said strut underlying said deck and said windows, shear lug means depending from said container support and adapted to extend into one of said windows for restraining said container support against horizontal movement, and said side of said container support from which said strut extends having a sliding surface for sliding engagement with said deck when said container support is pivoted to withdraw said shear lug means from said one window to permit movement of said container support along said slot, the center of gravity of said container support being longitudinally spaced on one side of said shear lug means when said container support is in the operative position and being longitudinally spaced from said shear lug means in the opposite direction when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position whereby no upward force is required to be applied to said container support during such movement.

2. A railway flat'car according to claim 1 wherein said side of said container support from which said strut extends has an arcuate surface for contacting the surface of said deck to facilitate pivoting of said container support to bring said sliding surface into sliding engagement with said surface of said deck.

3. A railway flat car according to claim 2 wherein said arcuate surface is in two sections on opposite sides of said strut.

4. A railway flat car according to claim 1 wherein said shear lug means comprises a hook that is removed from said one window on pivotal movement of said container support after limited lateral movement.

5. A railway flat car according to claim 1 wherein a guide lug section is aligned with said strut and is adapted to extend into said slot when said container support is pivoted to sliding position to guide the same along said slot.

6. A railway. flat car comprising a deck having a longitudinal slot with windows in spaced relation along one side, a container support slidable along said slot having a generally horizontal seat to support an associated lower comer of a container, said container support having a pair of connected walls arranged in right angular relation and extending upwardly from said seat to restrain said container against horizontal movement, one of said connected walls adapted to overlie said vertical side wall of said container, a strut extending from said container support through said slot, a wing at the distal end of said strut underlying said deck and said windows, an upstanding shear lug on said wing adapted to extend into one of said windows for restraining said container support against horizontal movement, the side of said container support away from the other of said connected walls having an extension with an upwardly inclined surface, said container support being pivotable to bring said inclined surface into sliding contact with said deck and to withdraw said shear lug from said one window to permit movement of said container support along said slot, and a guide lug on said extension and along said inclined surface thereof adapted to extend into said slot when said container.

support is pivoted to the sliding position to guide the same therealong, the center of gravity of said container support being longitudinally spaced on one side of said shear lug means when said container support is in the operative position and being longitudinally spaced from said shear lug means in the opposite direction when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position whereby no upward force is required to be applied to said container support during such movement.

7. A railway fiat car comprising a deck having a longitudinal slot with windows in spaced relation along one side, a container support slidable along said slot having a generally horizontal seat to support an associated lower corner of a container, said container support having a pair of connected walls arranged in right angular relation and extending upwardly from said seat to restrain said container against horizontal movement, one of said connected walls adapted to overlie said vertical side wall of said container, a strut extending from said container support through said slot, a wing at the distal end of said strut underlying said deck and said windows, an upstanding shear lug on said wing adapted to extend into one of said windows for restraining said container support against horizontal movement, that side of said container support away from the other of said connected walls having an extension with an upwardly inclined surface and said container support being pivotable to bring said inclined surface into sliding contact with deck and to withdraw said shear lug from said one window to permit movement of said container support along said slot with said inclined surface remaining in contact with said deck, the center of gravity of said container support being longitudinally spaced on one side of said shear lug means when said container support is in the operative position and being longitudinally spaced from said shear lug means in the opposite direction when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position whereby no upward force is required to be applied to said container support during such movement. 

1. A railway flat car comprising a deck having a longitudinal slot with windows in spaced relation along one side, a container support slidable along said slot having a generally horizontal seat to support an associated lower corner of a container, said container support having a pair of connected walls arranged in right angular relation and extending upwardly from said seat to restrain said container against horizontal movement, one of said connected walls adapted to overlie said vertical side wall of said container, a strut extending from a side of said container support through said slot, a wing at the distal end of said strut underlying said deck and said windows, shear lug means depending from said container support and adapted to extend into one of said windows for restraining said container support against horizontal movement, and said side of said container support from which said strut extends having a sliding surface for sliding engagement with said deck when said container support is pivoted to withdraw said shear lug means from said one window to permit movement of said container support along said slot, the center of gravity of said container support being longitudinally spaced on one side of said shear lug means when said container support is in the operative position and being longitudinally spaced from said shear lug means in the opposite direction when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position whereby no upward force is required to be applied to said container support during such movement.
 2. A railway flat car according to claim 1 wherein said side of said container support from which said strut extends has an arcuate surface for contacting the surface of said deck to facilitate pivoting of said container support to bring said sliding surface into sliding engagement with said surface of said deck.
 3. A railway flat car according to claim 2 wherein said arcuate surface is in two sections on opposite sides of said strut.
 4. A railway flat car according to claim 1 wherein said shear lug means comprises a hook that is removed from said one window on pivotal movement of said container support after limited lateral movement.
 5. A railway flat car according to claim 1 wherein a guide lug section is aligned with said strut and is adapted to extend into said slot when said container support is pivoted to sliding position to guide the same along said sloT.
 6. A railway flat car comprising a deck having a longitudinal slot with windows in spaced relation along one side, a container support slidable along said slot having a generally horizontal seat to support an associated lower corner of a container, said container support having a pair of connected walls arranged in right angular relation and extending upwardly from said seat to restrain said container against horizontal movement, one of said connected walls adapted to overlie said vertical side wall of said container, a strut extending from said container support through said slot, a wing at the distal end of said strut underlying said deck and said windows, an upstanding shear lug on said wing adapted to extend into one of said windows for restraining said container support against horizontal movement, the side of said container support away from the other of said connected walls having an extension with an upwardly inclined surface, said container support being pivotable to bring said inclined surface into sliding contact with said deck and to withdraw said shear lug from said one window to permit movement of said container support along said slot, and a guide lug on said extension and along said inclined surface thereof adapted to extend into said slot when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position to guide the same therealong, the center of gravity of said container support being longitudinally spaced on one side of said shear lug means when said container support is in the operative position and being longitudinally spaced from said shear lug means in the opposite direction when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position whereby no upward force is required to be applied to said container support during such movement.
 7. A railway flat car comprising a deck having a longitudinal slot with windows in spaced relation along one side, a container support slidable along said slot having a generally horizontal seat to support an associated lower corner of a container, said container support having a pair of connected walls arranged in right angular relation and extending upwardly from said seat to restrain said container against horizontal movement, one of said connected walls adapted to overlie said vertical side wall of said container, a strut extending from said container support through said slot, a wing at the distal end of said strut underlying said deck and said windows, an upstanding shear lug on said wing adapted to extend into one of said windows for restraining said container support against horizontal movement, that side of said container support away from the other of said connected walls having an extension with an upwardly inclined surface and said container support being pivotable to bring said inclined surface into sliding contact with deck and to withdraw said shear lug from said one window to permit movement of said container support along said slot with said inclined surface remaining in contact with said deck, the center of gravity of said container support being longitudinally spaced on one side of said shear lug means when said container support is in the operative position and being longitudinally spaced from said shear lug means in the opposite direction when said container support is pivoted to the sliding position whereby no upward force is required to be applied to said container support during such movement. 